Touch Drives Racing Simulator

"Touch eliminates the need for additional hardware in order to drive and enjoy the iRacing experience," said Steve Myers, iRacing executive vice president and executive producer.

Fans of Formula 1 and NASCAR racing regard the roar of high-powered engines and the smell of fuel as essential to the experience of racing. Racing simulators can’t deliver those sensory experiences yet, but touch interfaces are blurring the line between simulated and real racing more than ever before.

iRacing, a multiplayer online racing simulation game, is working to make that racing experience as real as possible by creating software-simulated versions of some of the most famous racetracks in the world, such as those from Formula 1 and NASCAR, and some of the most famous racecars, including a planned release of the famed Lotus 49 Formula 1 car.

iRacing’s goal is to create “the most realistic racing simulation that racers and race fans alike can purchase and use on their home PCs,” said Steve Myers, executive vice president and executive producer at the company.

Simulated Racetracks Span Globe

iRacing partnered with NASCAR tracks in the United States and Formula 1 tracks in Brazil, Belgium, the United Kingdom and elsewhere to create exact replications.

A challenge for iRacing is appealing to two different audiences, according to Myers.

“Our international customer base wanted to race an authentic F1 car,” he said. “Our domestic customer base is passionate about NASCAR and wanted to race the same tracks and cars that their heroes race on the weekends.”

To keep pace with customers’ demands, iRacing partnered with NASCAR tracks in the United States and Formula 1 tracks in Brazil, Belgium, the United Kingdom and elsewhere to create exact replications.

But a world-class racing simulation includes more than just accurate maps of famous racetracks. iRacing wanted to simulate the entire racing experience, not just the scenery. This simulation would require a lot of computing power. Already firmly established as a desktop PC powerhouse, iRacing needed to move to tablet PCs and Ultrabooks, especially those capable of Microsoft Windows 8 touch-based interaction.

Touch Controllers Advance User Experience

Touch brings the iRacing simulation experience even closer to real life, according to Myers, adding, “We also use touch to let you rapidly make pit stop adjustments to your car without reaching for the keyboard.”

To take full advantage of touch capabilities, Myers sought computing options that would maximize the tactile user interface.

“The touch controllers in the Intel Ultrabook reference design were light years ahead of any touchscreens we could find on the market,” he said.

Touch technology is also cost-effective to iRacing customers. “Touch eliminates the need for additional hardware in order to drive and enjoy the iRacing experience,” Myers said.

"Touch eliminates the need for additional hardware in order to drive and enjoy the iRacing experience," said Steve Myers, iRacing executive vice president and executive producer.

Fans of Formula 1 and NASCAR racing regard the roar of high-powered engines and the smell of fuel as essential to the experience of racing. Racing simulators can’t deliver those sensory experiences yet, but touch interfaces are blurring the line between simulated and real racing more than ever before.

iRacing, a multiplayer online racing simulation game, is working to make that racing experience as real as possible by creating software-simulated versions of some of the most famous racetracks in the world, such as those from Formula 1 and NASCAR, and some of the most famous racecars, including a planned release of the famed Lotus 49 Formula 1 car.

iRacing’s goal is to create “the most realistic racing simulation that racers and race fans alike can purchase and use on their home PCs,” said Steve Myers, executive vice president and executive producer at the company.

Simulated Racetracks Span Globe

iRacing partnered with NASCAR tracks in the United States and Formula 1 tracks in Brazil, Belgium, the United Kingdom and elsewhere to create exact replications.

A challenge for iRacing is appealing to two different audiences, according to Myers.

“Our international customer base wanted to race an authentic F1 car,” he said. “Our domestic customer base is passionate about NASCAR and wanted to race the same tracks and cars that their heroes race on the weekends.”

To keep pace with customers’ demands, iRacing partnered with NASCAR tracks in the United States and Formula 1 tracks in Brazil, Belgium, the United Kingdom and elsewhere to create exact replications.

But a world-class racing simulation includes more than just accurate maps of famous racetracks. iRacing wanted to simulate the entire racing experience, not just the scenery. This simulation would require a lot of computing power. Already firmly established as a desktop PC powerhouse, iRacing needed to move to tablet PCs and Ultrabooks, especially those capable of Microsoft Windows 8 touch-based interaction.

Touch Controllers Advance User Experience

Touch brings the iRacing simulation experience even closer to real life, according to Myers, adding, “We also use touch to let you rapidly make pit stop adjustments to your car without reaching for the keyboard.”

To take full advantage of touch capabilities, Myers sought computing options that would maximize the tactile user interface.

“The touch controllers in the Intel Ultrabook reference design were light years ahead of any touchscreens we could find on the market,” he said.

Touch technology is also cost-effective to iRacing customers. “Touch eliminates the need for additional hardware in order to drive and enjoy the iRacing experience,” Myers said.

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